The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-03-03
POLITICAL PARTIES.

Political parties are founded upon pub
lie policies. And these policies must
embrace the management Of public af'
fairs.
In free country there are. usually
but two political parties. The party In
power establishing and carrying out itt
policy is antsgonlzed by the party Out
Of pover
In the natural order Of things there
be but two parties. Az to a public
policy, or either approves or disap
proves, is either for or against. There
Is no half way possible. When a meas
ure is up for consideration one either
fsvors or opposes.
History shows this to have been the
case as to parties In all countries, and
so continues. In Great Britain. for ex'
ample, the party OF grasping fsvoritlsm,
rank distinction, and privileged classes.
is opposed by the liberal party. The
latter has been the party of reform, OF
advancement, of improvement, Of jus
tice.
This indicates the dividing line be-
tween political parties in all countries,
and at all times. Liberalism habitu-
ally stood for individual freedom as
against divine right, passive obedience,
prerogstiVe, coercion, etc. 4
In this country the same line Of dis
tinctiOn may be observed, After the
adoption Of the federal constitution the
present division of parties developed,
Alexander Hamilton being the leader Of
the one, and Thomas Jefferson Of the
other. To-day these same parties con
tinue.
Hamilton, as Secretary Of the Treas,
1ry under Washington, was active In
establishing his policy of prerOgatIVe,
franchises, or special privileges, aping
In all this the British system. He de-
serves no credit for originality.
Jefferson, as Secretary Of State, OppOs-
ed HamiltOn's schemes, but not being
the financial man of the cabinet had
not the influence In these matters that
Hamilton had. Hence the monopoly
schemes Of the latter prevailed.
Jefferson, however, was the philosO-
pher, the man OF sagacity, and In due
time overthrow the Federal party Of
Hamilton and Adams, and was elected
President In 1900. His inaugural ad-
dress delivered March 4th, 1901, though
short, is an admirable exposition OF our
system Of government, Of just govern.
ment. 1t is undoubtedly the ablest
state paper that ever emanated from an
executive.
In his first inaugural, Jefferson lays
down his essential principles Of gov
ernment," the first Of which ls, "eQual
"and exact justice to all men Of whatever
"state or persuasion, religious or DOlit-
ical." He claims 1t Is not the mission
of Government ito take from the mouth
"Of labor the bread 1t has earned" be
the robber instead Of the cOnserVator Of
the rights Of the people.
We may thus see the difference be-
tween JeffersOn's and Hamilton 3 idea of
government. The former wanted a
plain and simple gOvr rnment, run In
The interest Of justice. Hamilton wanted
, government controlled by and run In
5he interest Of privileged mOneyed
md capital class, regardless of the rights
II the people. There Is no warrant for
his plan In the constitution, nor In the
walks Of justice. Jefferson wanted to
establish and secure justice; Hamilton
10 establish mOneyed aristocracy.
Every one familiar with current his
Ory, and the Republican policy Of the
'ederal government, can readily under
Jtand that the Republican party Is the
I'D Federal monopoly party Of Hamil.
iOn. During the war the party leaders
we're busy with their schemes and their
ong 'sse Of power af!ef the war enabled
hem to engraft their plundsr schemes
lpOn the country.